Friction mechanism for car trucks



Aug. 31, 1937o v J. A. sHAr-r-:R 2,091,837

FRICTION MECHANISM FOR CAR TRUCKS Filed June 27, 1936 'a' Sheets-Sheet 1James S/zqfer BY KM ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1937. 1 A SHAFER 2,091,837

FRICTION MECHANISM FOR CAR TRUCKS Filed June 27, v1956 :s sheets-sheet 2INVENTOR James S/zqfer www@ kw ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1937.

J. A. SHAFER FRICTION MECHANISM FR CAR TRUCKS Filed June 2'?, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR James Slzqfer BY ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 3l, 1937l v .2,091,837 v Fmo'rroN MECHANISM Foa can 'moons James A. Shafer,

East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to National Malleable and Steel CastingsCornpany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 27,1936, Serial No. 87,674 20 Claims. (Cl. 1415-197) My invention relatesto railway vcar trucksand has for an object the provision of novel meansfor effectively preventing harmonic vibrations of the bolster supportingsprings. In this connec; tion the invention provides means 'simple inconstruction and reliable in action for snubbing oscillations of saidsprings and thus preventing the occurrence of undesirable vibrations.The invention has been developed in conjunction with car trucks of thetype shown in my Patent No. 1,973,664, and is of particular utility withsuch trucks, enabling the retention of the advantages thereof while atthe same time insuring in a novel manner the elimination of undesiredspring oscillation.

A further object is the provision of snubbing or damping means which maybe incorporated in car trucks of the type shown invsaid Patent No.1,973,664 without necessitating any change in the construction of thebolster or side frame thereof, whereby'such snubbing means can beapplied to trucks of this type already in service.

An important feature of my invention is the utilization of the walls ofthe bolster' spring pocketsas a housing or friction casing, thus ob.viating the need of a separate casting to perform this function. Bymaking use of the bolster pocket construction peculiar to this type oftruck, an exceptionally strong and rigid friction housing is obtainedwhereby the danger of cracking and breaking is materially reduced.Further-v more, due to the.` employment of the inverted bolster pocketsto receive and enclose the snub'- `bing device, and dueto the particularlocation of such pockets in this typeof truck, such location beingappreciably higher than that of the bolster springs in thevconventionaltype of truck, the possibility of water and brine from refrigerator carsgetting into the snubbing device and contacting the friction surfacesthereof is considerably diminished, and its consequent deterioratingeffect von such surfaces eliminated.

A more specific object of my invention is the provision of rockers heldin assembled relation with the bolstrand certain of the bolstersupporting springs, -`s`aid rockers being adapted to cooperate with thefriction housing of the bolster to form the snubbing means referred toabove. By locating the friction arms of the rockers outside of thecoilsprings mounted thereon, an exceptionally large frictional bearingarea is obtained, thereby insuring longer life of thefriction parts byreason of decreased unit pressure.

Another particular object of my invention is the provision of wear shoesadapted to be received within the friction housing ofthe bolster andcooperating with the rocker arms mentioned above to obviate any Wear onthe bolster.

A further feature of my invention is the provision of interlocking meansbetween the rockers, 5 wear. shoes, and bolster, whereby said rockersandwear shoes are locked against rotation within their respectivefriction housings.

These and other features and objects of my invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description and the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section,

of a car truck embodying my invention, the bolsterand associated partsbeing shown in section through the front springs. y

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

sectional view Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the 20 l line3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure'4 is an isometric view of one of the vrocker arms; and

Figure 5 is an isometric view of one of the wear shoes. '25

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

there is shown at A .i portion of a side frame of a car truck having awindow 2 for the reception o! a bolster B. The side frame illustrated isof the type shown in my patent above referred to,.beirig formed belowthe window with a portion designated generally by the numeral 3, withinwhich springs 4, 5 are adapted to be seated and housed, said portion 3comprising a bottom shelf 6, a top flange or shelf 1, and side walls 8,9. Said side walls are integral with said shelvesv 6, 1 and also withthe side walls' I0 of the inclined tension members C. It will, ofcourse,be understood that a similar side frame cooperates with the oppositevend of the bolster B, but for the purposes of the 40 i' presentinvention a consideration of the coopera- -tion between one side frameand the bolster B will be sufficient. f

Each end of the bolster B is formed with a pair of downwardly openinghousings or pockets I2, I3 Y separated by a dividingv wall I4. Dowels orprojections I5 integral with the bolster extend downwardly therefrom,throughopenings I6 in the shelf 1, for engagement with spring caps I1 onthe lower springs 4, 5. These dowels I 5, two of which are provided oneach end of the bolster, further serve to tie the twoside frames of thetruck together in the same manner as do the corresponding bolster dowelsin the previouslyl mentioned patent.

Received within the pockets I2, I3 of the bolster are sets of springsI3, each setbeing-supported on a pair of rockers 20, 23. The springs Il,I3

and rockers 20 are retained within their respec- 5 tive bolster pocketsby means of the bolts 2| and nuts 22, which are received within suitableopenl ings in the horizontal arm 23 of each rocker. It will be notedthat this arm 23 is provided with an upwardly offset portion 23'Vforming a recess 22' to receive the nut' 22. This offset portion furtherserves to center the outer coils of the spring group supported by therocker, and alsoA acts as a seat for the innermostl coil of such springgroup. Each rocker is also provided with a vertical arm 24 arcuate incross-section so as to conform to the contour of the side walls 25, 26of the bolster pockets I2, I3. These side walls 25, 26 are circular incross-section over a considerable portion of their extent, but ladjacentthe dividing wall I4 each wall curves in the. opposite direction fromsaid circular portions to form pockets or recesses 21 for a purpose tobe later described.

The underside of the horizontal arm 23 of each .rocker 20 is formed witha 'flattened' surface 28.

25 and an upwardly tapering portion 29 thereby presenting, in effect, afulcrum point about which the rocker is adapted to pivot or rotate. The

upper surface of this arm is formed with recesses 3|, 3| whereby themajor portion of the spring 3 load on said arm will be applied outwardlyof the fulcrum point 30. The spring load will therefore tend to rotatethe rockersoutwardly so that 0 the vertical arms 24 will be pressed intofrictional engagement with the bolster pocket side walls 25, 26. Uponrelative vertical movement between the bolster and the rockers, frictionwill accordingly be generated therebetween for snubbing the oscillationsof the bolstersupporting springs. 'I'he friction developed by thesnubbing. device may be varied by moving the fulcrum point30 of therockers inwardly or outwardly, thus changing the lever arms to increaseor decrease the snubbing action as desired.

Although I prefer to interpose wear shoes 32, 32

between the bolster pocket side walls and the vertical arms of thevrockers for the purpose of eliminating wear on the bolster, it will beunderl stoodv that, if desired, these arms may directly engage the sidewalls. The wear shoes 32, 32

which I have provided within the bolster pockets each consist of ahorizontal base portion 33 overlying the springs within said pocket, anda downwardly extending wear flange 34 of approximately the same verticalextent as the bolster pocket side walls. This flange, like the verticalarms of the rockers, is arcuate in cross-section to conform to thecurvature of the circular portions of the bolster pocket walls againstwhichv the flange is' adapted to seat. Flange 34 thereby presents a sofriction surface for engagement with the friction surface on thevertical arms of the rockers.

It will be observed that the bolster pocket walls are not entirelycircular in contour, nor of uniform vertical extent throughout.Consequently,

if the wear shoes were free to rotate within their ,respective pockets,a condition might Varise where` in the depending flanges 34 would not beproperly .supported by the bolster walls. Under such a condition thepressure of the vertical arms of the rockers against the unsupportedflange might result in the breaking thereof andthe consequent renderingof the mechanism inoperative. To

obviate this I have provided novel locking means for the wear shoes androckers whereby any appreciable rotative movement of such parts Within'means on said side frame for their respective bolster pockets iseffectively prevented.

Referring particularly be noted that the depending ange 34 of the wearshoe is of lesser vertical extent at each side thereof, as shown at 34',than the central portion of the flange, thus forming recessed orcut-away portions. Projections 35, 35 at each side of the 4rocker 20 areadapted to be received within these lock the wear shoe with .the bolstera lug or projection 40 is formed on the-exterior surface of the flange34 at one-side only and just above the recessed portion thereof. Thislug 40 extends into the recess 21 in the bolster pocket and engages theadjacent bolster walls to limit rotation of the wear shoe in the bolsterpocket. Thus it will be understood that the rockers 20 and wear shoes 32arev both locked against any appreciable rotation within the bolsterpockets.

Although I have illustrated my novel snubbing arrangement applied toboth pockets I2, I3 in each end of the bolster, it will be` understoodthat such arrangement may be applied to only one of these pockets, andthe usual coil springs applied to the other, if so desired. It may bethat for certain purposes a single snubbing device will Yprovidesufficient absorption to prevent undesired spring oscillation.

From the above description it will be seen that l I have invented novelsnubbing means, simple in construction and reliable in action, forfreight car trucks, said means being compact in arrangement and adaptedto be assembled entirely within the bolster before its application tothe side frames, thereby forming a unitary structure with the bolster.Furthermore my snubbing means may be readily applied to trucks of thetype disclosed in my patent above mentioned which are already in servicewithout necessitating any change whatever in the construction of theside frame or bolster.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used-as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize thatvarious modifications are possible within the scope of the inventionclaimed.

What I claim is:

l. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, a downwardly opening -pocketin the end of said bolster, vertically disposed spring means within saidpocket for supporting said bolster, and supporting said spring means andexerting outward pressure against the side walls of said bolster pocketunder the influence of said spring means.

2. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, a

`downwardly opening pocket in the end of said bolster, verticallydisposed spring means within said pocket for supporting said bolster,and means on said side frame and adapted to be received within saidpocket for supporting said to Figs. 4 and 5, it will v against the sidewalls of said bolster pocket un-- der the miluence of said spring means.

3. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, a downwardly opening pocketin the end of said bolster, a pair of rocker members on said side frameand adapted to be received within said pocket, and bolster supportingspring means within said pocket and carried by said members .for causingsaid members to exert outward pressure against the side walls of saidbolster pocket. 4. In a car truck, a side frame, avbolster, a downwardlyopening pocket in the end of said bolster, spring means within saidpocket for supporting said bolster, and snubbing means for said springmeans comprising a pair of rocker members on said side frame, saidrocker vmembers having horizontal arms extending under said spring meansand vertical arms forced by said springs to exert outward pressureagainst the side walls of said bolster pocket.

5. In a car'truck, a' Sideframe, a bolster, a downwardly opening pocketin the end of said bolster, spring means within said pocket forsupporting said bolster, and snubbing means for said spring meanscomprising a pair of rocker members on said side frame and adapted to bereceived within said pocket, said rocker members having horizontal armsextending under said spring means and vertical arms forced by saidspring means to exert outwardv pressurelagainst the side walls of saidbolster pocket,

6.` In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, a

downwardly opening pocket in the. end of said 30 bolster, rocker memberseach pivotally mounted at one of its ends onrsaid side frame, andbolster supporting spring means within said pocket and carried by saidmembers for causing said mem- Y bers to exert outward pressure againstthe side 43 walls of said bolster pocket.

7. In a car truck, a side frame, a lbolster havingra downwardly'openingpocket at the end thereof, the walls of said pocket `being circular insection over a portion of their extent, spring 45 means within saidpocket for supporting said bolster, and snubbing means for vsaid springmeans comprising a pair of rocker members pivotally mounted on said sideframe, said rocker members having horizontal arms extending un- 50 dersaid spring means and vertical arms circular in section for cooperationwith the. circular portion of said walls under the inuence .of lsaidsprings. l

8. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster havl55 ing a downwardlyopening pocket at the end thereof, the walls of said pocket beingcircular in section over a portion of their extent, spring means withinsaid pocket for supporting said bolster, snubbing means for said springmeans 60 comprising a pair of rocker members pivotally mounted on saidside frame, said rocker members having horizontal arms extending undersaid spring means and vertical arms circular in section for cooperationwith the circular portion of 65 said walls, and means for maintainingsaid members against rotation within said pocket.

9. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster having a downwardly openingpocket at thevend thereof, wear shoes within said pocket, spring 70means between said'shoes and cooperating therewith to hold the shoes insaid pocket, and snubbing means for said spring means comprising a vpairof rocker members pivotally mounted on said side frame, Asaid rockermembers having horizontal arms extending under said spring other.

means and vertical arms adapted to frictionally engage said wear shoesunder the influence of said springs.

10. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster havy ing 'a downwardlyopening pocket at the end thereof, the walls of said pocket beingcircular in section over a portion of their extent, spring means withinsaid pocket for supporting the bolster, snubbing means for said springmeans including a rocker member pivotally mounted on said side frame, awear shoe in said pocket, said rocker member and wear shoe havingvertically extendingnarms circular in section and adapted tofrictioii'ally engage with each other under the influence of said springmeans and means on said arms forlocking said rocker member and wear shoeagainst rotation with respect to each j 11. In a car truck, a sideframe, a bolster having a downwardly opening pocket at the end thereof,the walls of saidpocket being circular insection over a portion *f theirextent, spring means in said pocket for supporting the bolster, snubbingmeans for saidspring means including a rocker vmember pivotally mountedon said side frame in said pocket, said rocker member and Wear shoehaving vertically extending arms circular in section and adapted tofrictionally engage with each other under the influence of said springmeans, and means for locking said rocker member and wear shoe againstrotation with respect to` each other including a projection on saidrocker memb'erand a shoulder on said wear shoe.

12. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster hav- ,ing a downwardlyopening pocket at the end tionally engage with each other under theiniiuence of said spring means, and means on said arms for locking saidrocker member and wear shoeI against rotation within said pocketcomprising projections on said rocker member for cooperation withshoulders on said wear shoe and a lug on said wear shoe received in 'arecess in said pocket. y

13. In a car truck, a side frame having abolster receiving opening and ashelf therebelow'fa bolster extending into said opening and formed witha downwardly opening pocket in the .end thereof, spring means on saidside frame above and below said shelf for supporting said bolster, theupper spring means being adapted to be received in the. said pocket, andsnubbing means comprising rockers pivotally mounted on said shelf forfrictionally engaging the inner sides of the walls of said pocket underthe inuence of said springs.

14. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster receiving opening anda shelf therebelow, a bolster extending into said opening and formedwith a downwardly opening pocket in the end thereof, spring means onsaid side frame above and below said shelf for supporting said bolster,the

, upper spring means being adapted to be received ster receiving openingand a shelf therebelow, a bolster extending into said opening and formedwith a downwardly opening pocket in the end thereof, spring means onsaid side frame above .5 and below said shelf for supporting saidbolster,

the upper spring means being adapted to be received in the said pocket,wear shoes within said pocket, and snubbing means for said springscomprising rockersv pivotally mounted on said 'side' members, wear shoesand said springs in vertically assembled relation to said bolster.

25 17. A car truck bolster having a downwardly opening hollow endportion, the walls of said opening being circular over a portion oftheir extent, means in said portion, rocker members having extensionsunderlying said spring means and 30 vertical portions circular insection for cooperation with the circular portions of said walls, and

means for locking said rocker members against rotation within saidopening. 18. A car truck bolster having a downwardly 35 opening hollowend portion, the walls of said opening being circular over a portion-oftheir extent, spring means in said portion, rocker members havingextensions underlying said spring means and vertical portions circularin section for cooperation with the circular portions of said walls,means for locking said rocker members against rotation within saidopening and other means maintaining said rocker members and said springsin vertically assembled relation to said bolster.

19. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, a downwardly opening pocketin the end of said bolster, rocker members pivotally mounted at one endthereof on said side frame, bolster supporting spring means within saidpocket and carried by said members for causing said members to exertoutward pressure against the side walls of said bolster pocket. andmeans on said rocker members for confining the engagement between saidspring means and rocker members to portions of said members spacedoutwardly from the lpivots thereof.

20.` In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, a downwardly openingpocket in the end of said bolster, rocker members pivotally mountedat-one end thereof on said side frame, bolster supporting spring meanswithin said pocket and carried by said members for causing said membersto exert outward pressure against the side walls of said bolster pocket,said rocker members being formed with cut-away portions for confiningthe engagement between said spring means and rocker members to portionsof said members spaced outwardly from the pivots thereof.

y JAMES A. SHAFER.

